Introduction, reading of poem, and analysis by Rebecca
Countee Cullen was an orphan child and was adopted by the Cullen family in his teen years. His life growing up revolved around writing and studying until he met Yolande Du Bois, the only child of WE.B. Du Bois. They later had a huge wedding to show the union of two African Americans who had a big impact in the Harlem Renaissance. Sadly their relationship did not work out so they got divorced two years later in 1930 ("About Countee Cullen's Life and Career").
The full poem "The Loss of Love" by Countee Cullen in audio.
"I have no will to weep or sing,
No least desire to pray or curse;
The loss of love is a terrible thing;
They lie who say that death is worse" (AfroPoets Famous Writers). In this stanza, Cullen is saying that he feels terrible for have lost a love. He doesn't want to be pray or sing. He doesn't feel like doing anything at all. Cullen could be writing about his ex-wife, Yolande Du Bois, as being his lost love. They had loved each other while they were dating but then things happened, so they later got divorced ("About Countee Cullen's Life and Career"). At this point while Cullen is writing this poem he thinks that being dead would be more peaceful than the feeling of have lost a love. Cullen is expressing how that his loss of love is the worst feeling in the world. There isn't anything that could hurt him more. Any feeling is better than have lost a love in life.
"The Loss of Love" By Countee Cullen
Introduction, reading of poem, and analysis by Rebecca
Countee Cullen was an orphan child and was adopted by the Cullen family in his teen years. His life growing up revolved around writing and studying until he met Yolande Du Bois, the only child of WE.B. Du Bois. They later had a huge wedding to show the union of two African Americans who had a big impact in the Harlem Renaissance. Sadly their relationship did not work out so they got divorced two years later in 1930 ("About Countee Cullen's Life and Career").The full poem "The Loss of Love" by Countee Cullen in audio.
"I have no will to weep or sing,
No least desire to pray or curse;
The loss of love is a terrible thing;
They lie who say that death is worse" (AfroPoets Famous Writers).
In this stanza, Cullen is saying that he feels terrible for have lost a love. He doesn't want to be pray or sing. He doesn't feel like doing anything at all. Cullen could be writing about his ex-wife, Yolande Du Bois, as being his lost love. They had loved each other while they were dating but then things happened, so they later got divorced ("About Countee Cullen's Life and Career"). At this point while Cullen is writing this poem he thinks that being dead would be more peaceful than the feeling of have lost a love. Cullen is expressing how that his loss of love is the worst feeling in the world. There isn't anything that could hurt him more. Any feeling is better than have lost a love in life.
Bibliography:
"AfroPoets Famous Writers." Web.19 May 2009. <http://www.afropoets.net/counteecullen7.html>.
James Smethurst, Cary Nelson, "About Countee Cullen's Life and Career." 2000 Web.19 May 2009. <http://www.english.illinois.edu/MAPS/poets/a_f/cullen/life.htm>.